The U.S. Coast Guard and Naval Air Methods Command (NAVAIR) lately collaborated to unravel a essential components scarcity for the Coast Guard’s MH-60T helicopter fleet utilizing additive manufacturing. The scarcity concerned AATS spacer mounts, which have been wanted for an improve to the helicopters’ Computerized Asset Monitoring System wiring system. The components have been unavailable by means of conventional industrial suppliers.
The Coast Guard’s preliminary try to supply the components internally was hampered by a scarcity of Black Ultem, the required polyetherimide materials. The service then reached out to NAVAIR for help, transferring the technical knowledge bundle by means of the Joint Technical Information Integration web site.
NAVAIR coordinated manufacturing at Fleet Readiness Heart Mid-Atlantic Detachment Oceana in Virginia Seashore. The required Black Ultem materials was positioned at Patuxent River’s Polymers Analysis Department, with a group member driving 4 hours to ship it to the manufacturing facility. Aviation Electronics Technician Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Oneal accomplished the manufacturing of 15 spacer mounts inside 24 hours.
“Working collectively, throughout companies, we improved the readiness of a essential asset and lowered the time required to take action,” mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Armstrong, Floor Forces Logistics Heart Industrial Operations Division department chief. The profitable collaboration has led to documentation of the method to streamline future comparable requests.
The additively manufactured spacer mounts are actually being put in throughout all the Coast Guard MH-60T helicopter fleet. This inter-agency effort demonstrates how additive manufacturing can handle provide chain gaps whereas sustaining operational readiness.
Supply: southernmarylandchronicle.com
